Wednesday, January 26, 2011

So far, the running has been ok. I've pounded out the course as insructed and sometimes with far more commitment than I have felt, but since MVFMs and Cramm are also running, there's also a bit of face to be lost if I end up being "THAT girl" who ends up not being able to run more than 60 seconds at a time. So, slowly but surely, we've been adding more running to our intervals but I hadn't really felt anything other than a dogged determination to finish what I started.

Last night however, in the middle of the third interval, something clicked. Pace and breathing even out, my steps became quieter and I started feeling faster. Running seemed, suddenly, easier, exhilarating, surprising, and mostly freeing--much like the first few weeks of being in love.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

I've been on quite the new music hunt these last few months and it's led me to some pretty great (though probably not necessarily earth shattering) discoveries. I'm not going to lie, I'm a sucker for the $5 albums and the daily deals through Amazon*.

I like to pay for music and you know, be legal, so Amazon and I have a very pleasant working relationship.

All that to be said, my itunes has been full of new music and my ears(and my soul) have been quite happy.

The newest find is some Jesus music that is different than most of the Jesus music you hear on KLOVE (I have a hard time considering that "music," but that might make me more of an elitist snob, so disregard if you want.)

Anyway, I've been listening to Gungor (good music, AWFUL name) and this is the favorite from their album Beautiful Things

I love how the refrain builds and the Lutheran-ness of the first verse.

Create in me a clean heart, a clean heartFor I have turned my face from YouTeach us of Your ways oh God, oh GodFor we have turned away from YouLord have mercy

We will run to you, we will run to youTurning from our sin we return to YouFather heal your world, make all things newMake all things new

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

"Here is my question," he asked the group at large, "I always thought it was black and white, people are bad and people are good. They either believe in Jesus, or they don't." He went on to say that since he started college, he had the opportunity to meet and become good friends with people from all different faith walks. People that he liked and respected, people that he cared for, that didn't share his beliefs. His question was then, "How can you say for certain that these friends of mine are going to hell? How do you tell them about your faith when they already have that, even though it's different than yours?"

As the group talked and grappled with the answers, he told us that his plan was to, "love until they asked why."

Simple. Or not so simple.

Kind of like the faith we've been called to. Kind of like the Christ I profess to follow.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Somewhere along the way in the last few years, I've decided that I need to become a runner. I think, this is mostly because I am white. And apparently, I'm all about reaffirming stereotypes.

I've had this love/hate relationship with running (mostly I want to love it, but then I decide to run and I hate it and ask myself what the eff I was doing and vow to never run again). But, I've wanted to run, run well, and complete a 5k, a 10k, perhaps even a marathon someday.

Deciding there is no time like the present (or something else cliche), I signed up for this running class through a nearby running store, got some new running shoes, talked about it enough to convince Cramm and My Very Favorite Melsons (MVFM) to sign up with me and we're off to the races (ha ha, sorry). At the end of these ten weeks, we'll complete a 5k.

Over Christmas, thanks to several recommendations, I also read Born to Run for inspiration.

And I was inspired. Born to Run is so interesting and exciting that it makes you want to run for miles and miles at a time. You think to yourself, "Dude, I'll be running that Leadville 100 in a year."

But here's what happens; my expectations, not always in check with reality end up getting me in the end. I had (and still have) these lofty ideas that I will be the Best at Running Ever and I'll immediately run to Alaska like that dude in the book.

I think that I need to knock myself down a peg, because at this point, the goal of Cramm and MVFM's is, you know, not dying. And since we haven't run more than 60 seconds an interval, I'm still not sure I can complete a 5k without dying.

But, with one week down, and nine to go, I'm starting to feel that bit of inspiration and exhilaration that comes from the running. And with S. Sarah inviting me/challenging me to run Bolder Boulder with her in May, I think that running and I might have a fighting chance at a nice long relationship.